Bad Guy Premium Crickets

[Littlelions]

On Tuesday the 6th, I ordered 1000 1/2" crickets. On Friday evening, the order arrived, but the crickets were all smaller than 3/8" (remember, I ordered 1/2").
I sent them an email stating the problem and that I expected them to send me the size that I had ordered. This was Columbus Day weekend and they were already closed for Friday's workday, so I thought I'd hear back from them on Tuesday.
I received no email, so I called them Wednesday afternoon--got their answering machine--left my name, number and heard nothing until Thursday afternoon, when I got an email, asking me to call "Mike" at his Georgia phone number.
Against my better judgement, I called "Mike", a long-distance call for me.
Mike told me that crickets grow and it should only take another week and they'll be the size I had ordered.
I thought that was ridiculous, since I ordered crickets to feed now and these are too small for my pets.
After I continued insisting on a replacement, he offered to include 250 "extra" crickets with my next order and that shipping is expensive, so he would not send the crickets I need now.
I told him that that was a paltry offer and I would think 500 "extra" to be more reasonable.
"I'll make it 300.", he said," and that's the most I will do".
I laughed in disbelief and told him that that was unreasonable.
In my opinion, the mistake was entirely his company's and he should have been much more interested in resolving the problem.
I'm not the kind of person to yell or curse--which I did not--but this really made me so angry, because I feel that I have been cheated.
At no time was there even any apology from anyone, neither by email nor by phone.
He can keep his 300 crickets, as I definitely won't take the chance of getting burnt twice.
I'll spend my money with a better supplier--one who knows the meaning of the words customer service.

 

[Littlelions]

I don't know why I can't edit my user profile.
I added a signature with my married name, for correctness' sake, but it doesn't show on the post.

 

[MikeRusso]

Did this issue REALLY require a "Bad Guy" thread?? What are 1000 crickets maybe $15bux these days.. Honestly??

~ Mike Russo

 

[DAND]

Did this issue REALLY require a "Bad Guy" thread?? What are 1000 crickets maybe $15bux these days.. Honestly??

~ Mike Russo

They are 3/4 by now.

 

[Littlelions]

Is there some particular amount of money that you have to spend before you're allowed to get mad about not receiving what you paid for?
It's the fact that I don't like someone to not deliver what I ordered and then not make things right.
Meanwhile, I have to buy other feeders to use now, [/U]while these just take up space ,while I feed them and wait 2 weeks for them to reach usable size so they can be used as food.
If you can't figure-out that that's irritating, I can't help you.

 

[Chrisw]

Did this issue REALLY require a "Bad Guy" thread?? What are 1000 crickets maybe $15bux these days.. Honestly??

~ Mike Russo

BOI isnt about the price of the item but more of the quality of the service and transaction. I wont say premium crickets are bad guys but I have had some problems with them before.

 

[DAND]

On Tuesday the 6th, I ordered 1000 1/2" crickets. On Friday evening, the order arrived, but the crickets were all smaller than 3/8" (remember, I ordered 1/2").
I sent them an email stating the problem and that I expected them to send me the size that I had ordered. This was Columbus Day weekend and they were already closed for Friday's workday, so I thought I'd hear back from them on Tuesday.
I received no email, so I called them Wednesday afternoon--got their answering machine--left my name, number and heard nothing until Thursday afternoon, when I got an email, asking me to call "Mike" at his Georgia phone number.
Against my better judgement, I called "Mike", a long-distance call for me.
Mike told me that crickets grow and it should only take another week and they'll be the size I had ordered.
I thought that was ridiculous, since I ordered crickets to feed now and these are too small for my pets.
After I continued insisting on a replacement, he offered to include 250 "extra" crickets with my next order and that shipping is expensive, so he would not send the crickets I need now.
I told him that that was a paltry offer and I would think 500 "extra" to be more reasonable.
"I'll make it 300.", he said," and that's the most I will do".
I laughed in disbelief and told him that that was unreasonable.
In my opinion, the mistake was entirely his company's and he should have been much more interested in resolving the problem.
I'm not the kind of person to yell or curse--which I did not--but this really made me so angry, because I feel that I have been cheated.
At no time was there even any apology from anyone, neither by email nor by phone.
He can keep his 300 crickets, as I definitely won't take the chance of getting burnt twice.
I'll spend my money with a better supplier--one who knows the meaning of the words customer service.

Hello Kettle, this is Pot, you're black.

But for the sake of argument please post the e-mails (with headers please), what time you made your order [remember, when you ordered 1/2"] and while we are at it what you are feeding.

 

[hhmoore]

What would your response have been if the crickets you received had been over 5/8" when you ordered 1/2 inch?
I don't work with bug eaters, and haven't in a long time...but, with most herps, a prey item that is a little smaller than you want is preferable to one that is bigger than you want. Too big, and it is unusable. Too small, well, it might be inconvenient, but they can still be used.
I can understand being displeased - I've gotten smaller than ordered feeders before, so I can relate - at least, in your case, they are alive, and will grow to the ordered size pretty quickly unless you feed them all off before then.

(btw - if you want to correct the name in your User Profile, send a PM to WebSlave with the request.)

 

[MikeRusso]

Look I am not saying that there is a minimum dollor amount in order to post, but, if you can skip lunch to save up the money for your "loss" then why bother taking up the time and band with to complain about it here on the BOI?? OK, so your crickets showed up a little small, feed them out, choose another one of the 200 insect dealers and move on..

I have never done business with these guys and I don't know who they are, but are they really "Bad Guys" because they shipped out crickes that were a but too small?? All I am saying is let's be reasonable here kids!!

~ Mike Russo

 

[MikeCurtin]

I'd have to agree with the others. An "info" thread may have been warranted, but even that's a stretch. This guy's in business to make money, and has agreed to send you out 300 extra crickets. Most suppliers would have told you that sizes vary, and the closest they can get is an approximation, and that you're on your own.

If you feel it's necessary, I'd suggest trying a few other dealers, but you may very well find yourself coming back to Premium Crickets.

BTW, has he been notified of this thread?

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

I don't think it matters if it was crickets or it was $500+ reptiles. The item(s) was not delivered as advertised. When contacted, the seller would not provide a satisfactory solution, instead expecting the buyer to raise them up to size (which would be the sellers job).

While I personally would have made the title "INFO," Katherine has a valid complaint and shouldn't be condescended for the purchase price.

 

[LauraB]

Meanwhile, I have to buy other feeders to use now, while these just take up space ,while I feed them and wait 2 weeks for them to reach usable size so they can be used as food.

No, you don't have to buy other feeders. I bet your little pets won't even know the difference - they'll eat the 3/8" crix just as readily as they would 1/2".
Anyone who's kept bug-eaters for any length of time has had to settle for too-small or too-large from time to time. It happens. We adapt, we survive.

And as Harald already pointed out, better too small than too large.

 

[MikeCurtin]

I don't think it matters if it was crickets or it was $500+ reptiles. The item(s) was not delivered as advertised. When contacted, the seller would not provide a satisfactory solution, instead expecting the buyer to raise them up to size (which would be the sellers job).

While I personally would have made the title "INFO," Katherine has a valid complaint and shouldn't be condescended for the purchase price.

There is a difference between a "satisfactory" solution (as per the customer), and a reasonable one. 500 free crickets because the original ones were a little small does not seem reasonable.

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

There is a difference between a "satisfactory" solution (as per the customer), and a reasonable one. 500 free crickets because the original ones were a little small does not seem reasonable.

That would be true if the seller was offering 500 free crickets. He wasn't. Reread her post.

 

[MikeRusso]

I don't even think this qualifies as an "Info Thread" .. In my opinion this is more of an.. OK, these crickets arrived a little too small AND this nice company has agreed to give me 300 FREE crickets on my next order!! And, life goes on type of case!

The good news here is that if this is all she has to complain about in life then things are going pretty good for her!

~ Mike Russo

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

That would be true if the seller was offering 500 free crickets. He wasn't. Reread her post.

Disregard. I misread your post.



I feel differently then you do. I can't say one way or another what she is entitled to. It's an interesting circumstance, and the buyer is not satisifed. She is entitled to post her experience and opinion. No matter what, she did not get what was advertised.

I don't think she should be made to feel her purchase isn't high dollar enough to be posted here on the BOI. That is what bothered me. That was my whole point in responding to this thread. The purpose of the BOI is to share your experience, not to share your experience and then be degraded by members.

The BOI will be gone if members don't step up, clean up and contribute. Keep that in mind when you are making posts here.

 

[critical bill]

What a cheap and petty complaint - right down to the whining about a single long distance call. I could see being upset if I were told to send Mike a smoke signal, meaning that basically I was being told to blow it out my ass, but isn't a phone call a very common and decent and appropriate way to communicate and handle business anymore? This is actually a cause for complaint?

 

[DAND]

On Tuesday the 6th, I ordered 1000 1/2" crickets. On Friday evening, the order arrived, but the crickets were all smaller than 3/8" (remember, I ordered 1/2").

So, let's see if I can paint a picture with what information you have provided. I can only guess your order was made after their cut off time to be able to send them out that day (Tuesday). Guessing the cricket company is located in Georgia (your long distance call comment below) and your location posted here stating New York, you would be a 2 day ground transit. So...

I sent them an email stating the problem and that I expected them to send me the size that I had ordered. This was Columbus Day weekend and they were already closed for Friday's workday, so I thought I'd hear back from them on Tuesday.
I received no email, so I called them Wednesday afternoon--got their answering machine--left my name, number and heard nothing until Thursday afternoon, when I got an email, asking me to call "Mike" at his Georgia phone number.

You acknowledge the Holiday weekend. With that understood (or am I giving you more credit then deserved?), wouldn't you think they would be exceptionally busier on the first day back? Having a shortened work week they would now have one less day to send out the orders they would have normally shipped out during a regular work week and the remaining days would also be busier.

I'm only guessing since you have not posted the e-mails or the time when your call was made (afternoon is rather vague).

Against my better judgement, I called "Mike", a long-distance call for me.
Mike told me that crickets grow and it should only take another week and they'll be the size I had ordered.

And if you have them properly set up it may even be less than a week. Please explain how you set up your crickets and again what you are feeding.

I thought that was ridiculous, since I ordered crickets to feed now and these are too small for my pets.

Oh horse crap! Get real. If 1/16" to 1/8" of an inch makes it too small for your critter(s) to eat then you are feeding too small of a prey item.

After I continued insisting on a replacement, he offered to include 250 "extra" crickets with my next order and that shipping is expensive, so he would not send the crickets I need now.
I told him that that was a paltry offer and I would think 500 "extra" to be more reasonable.
"I'll make it 300.", he said," and that's the most I will do".
I laughed in disbelief and told him that that was unreasonable.

Please refer to my previous pot / kettle comment.

In my opinion, the mistake was entirely his company's and he should have been much more interested in resolving the problem.
I'm not the kind of person to yell or curse--which I did not--but this really made me so angry, because I feel that I have been cheated.
At no time was there even any apology from anyone, neither by email nor by phone.
He can keep his 300 crickets, as I definitely won't take the chance of getting burnt twice.
I'll spend my money with a better supplier--one who knows the meaning of the words customer service.

You state it was a mistake and yet claim to have been burnt. Which is it? They offer to give you an additional 25%+ to make up for the MISTAKE, you refuse that and they are unreasonable.

BTW, most cricket companies measure by volume or weight and in either case your smaller than desired size would likely have equated to a higher count. In all fairness you owe them for the over count then.

 

[Briscoe007]

I don't like to get into these things, but I am going to throw something simple out.

1. I expect to get the product that was advertised and that I agreed to pay for. If I don't I expect for the seller to reconcile the situation by either resending the correct item immediatly at his/her expense or to give me a refund. If they are not willing to do this I want to know about it. Price doesn't matter. It is a customer service/misrepresentation issue.

2. Katherine, I think that you should post the times of your phone calls and any link your emails in order to help validate your side of things.

Eric Briscoe

 

[DAND]

I expect to get the product that was advertised and that I agreed to pay for. If I don't I expect for the seller to reconcile the situation by either resending the correct item immediatly at his/her expense or to give me a refund. If they are not willing to do this I want to know about it. Price doesn't matter. It is a customer service/misrepresentation issue.

I believe everyone here is in agreement with this. But, it is not like she was buying tires for her car and the wrong size was sent and they are expecting her to buy another set and then offering to throw in the spare for free (damn good analogy if I have to say so myself ). She receive a product she could and I'm sure did use. They offered an additional amount to the next order to make good on the MISTAKE. Had they agreed to the 500 she wanted do you think this thread would have been posted?